AP punks Chris Bell

In a story about the TX governor's race, Race for Texas Governor Gets Wild, the AP pretty much forgot Chris Bell even exists.

First consider the photo and caption that went with the story:

The top contenders in the Texas Governor's race are from left: humorist Kinky Friedman running as an independent; state comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn also running as an independent and incumbent Rick Perry, a Republican. (AP Photo/file)













The story starts:

AUSTIN, Texas - Republicans fought for years to win control of Texas. Now they rule and are ripping one another in a ruthless race for governor.

The squabbling got so bad that Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn pulled out of the March GOP primary, opting to run as an independent. That means her attacks on Republican Gov. Rick Perry could last until the November election.

Humorist Kinky Friedman, declaring himself the "anti-politician," also wants on the ballot as an independent.

Bell doesn't even warrant a mention until the 10th paragraph. And then the article asserts that Friedman is the main beneficiary of Rs splitting between Perry and Strayhorn in the general and implies he has a better shot than Bell.

Strayhorn and Perry could split the Republican vote, and Friedman could end up being Perry's greatest threat, Polinard said.

"The anti-Perry (voter) might decide, 'What the hey, if it's good enough for Minnesota, it's good enough for us," Polinard said, referring to the 1998 surprise victory of former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura for governor of Minnesota.

Friedman's campaign manager, Dean Barkley, helped engineer Ventura's victory, and Ventura has showed up to support Friedman's candidacy.

Ventura and Friedman offer a similar style and approach to politics, said Larry Jacobs, a political scientist with the Humprhey Institute at the University of Minnesota.

In a final dis to Bell and the Dems, the story reminds us in closing:

In the last three governor elections, the winner of the GOP primary has gone on to become the state's chief executive.